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Question About Polyester

tarzy

Veteran

I have avoided polyester like the plague since the 80's. I always found it made me really hot (probably because it doesn't breath like cotton does?)

But I see it everywhere now, even in "better brands." Have they changed polyester and I didn't get the memo? I just can't wrap my mind around paying big bucks for polyester.

I tried on this nice, simple blouse from Jones NY at Macys. It was a good cut for me, and I liked the black. However, it's polyester, and the moment I put it on I felt hot. Is this just a mental block I have against poor polyester? Is "Georgette" a fancy-pants term for "polyester," or is it somehow different? Unfortunately in the store, I did not like the ivory color. It was almost peachy - more like the tiny cube of color - not creamy like in the picture. Is that also a polyester thing? Weird colors?

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/.....sn_results

If I could find a blouse like this in a fabric that breathes, I'd buy it.

General

14 replies

Latest reply was from tarzy

Maya

Veteran

Some polyester is worse than others. My polkadot H&M dress feels awful, but in winter it doesn't bother me and it looks adorable so I don't care. My blue ruffle UO dress is also polyester, but it is like silk. Lightweight and very comfortable. Polyester gets a bad reputation, but honestly, it has evolved so much since the 70's, 80's, and 90's.

I try to avoid it in summer since it gets so humid here, but as I said, my UO dress feels great.

marianne

Tara, I am also in general anti-polyester outside of outerwear. I do however have a couple of similar "georgette" blouses from H&M and they are OK. The problem is that they require base layers so while they are breathable enough, they are still not the best for hot weather.
BTW, I am not sure but I think georgette is a type of fabric weaving/manufacturing that was silk originally (crepe georgette) but now I guess it applies to polyester too, like chiffon, twill, etc.
I do agree that synthetics changed a lot in the recent decades. I was recently in a vintage store and touching 60s and 70s fabrics made my skin crawl. I can hardly believe people used to wear those.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

There is certainly a difference. Like you- most polyester makes me hot immediately. Occasionally, I will find a piece that doesn't, but at the price of those pieces I usually just opt for natural fibers.

tarzy

Veteran

Marianne - I think that's why I have such an adversity to polyester! I remember those horrible, awful fabrics from the 70s/80s - truly horrific colors that exist nowhere in nature, and so stiff and shiny. Disco, anyone?

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I also try to avoid polyester for summer - I prefer natural fibers or at least their blend.
For cool weather I think is is fine. There is a cheap polyester and better polyester. Cheap polyester pills, shines and looses shape pretty quickly. Nice quality polyester has a nice weight to it and lasts longer. I am still learning how to recognize a good quality polyester though. Maybe Angie can help?
Not related but I hate acrylic knits - they loose their look very soon IMO.

Maya

Veteran

I hate acrylics too Sveta! They pill simply from existing. I refuse to buy anything with more than 10% acrylic content.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Not just pill Maya, they also loose their shape - grrrr!!

Anonymous

Polyester feels hot to me too. I bought a top similar to the Sweet Pea brand but in polyester instead of nylon and it was a mistake.
Those polyester pant suits from the 60's were indestructable...I tried. My mom bought me one that I tried my best to make unwearable because it was so awful. You can't even burn the stuff. Don't ask me how I know that.

taylor

Veteran

I struggle with this polyester thing too, brings back such bad images. I do however think it has MUCH improved and is such a versitile synthetic that everyone is useing it these days. Must be cheap to manufacture.

I bought a blouse the other day I SWORE was silk (I am pretty good at this)... Nope poly It was pricey too.

Joy, I have a pretty good image of that burn episode in my head!!")

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

LOL, I remember all those god-awful 70s polyester leisure suits so well! I do think it has evolved since then, and I honestly don't even look at the fabric content when I am shopping. I am looking for drape, if it looks cheap, fit, etc.

I know a lot of forum members swear by wovens only, but my dry cleaning bill has gone down to almost nothing since I switched to knit dresses (mostly polyester or other synthetics). Since I had been putting my dry cleaners' kid through college back in my nice pants-and-buttondowns days, this is a big deal to me. Gives me more money to shop with!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Actually Kristen, I have the opposite impression: most forum members and the general American population swears by knits! For years I was the only one (plus Marianne) who wore woven shirts around here. There has only recently been a slight move to wovens on this forum. Everyone loathes ironing and no one likes to send things off to the cleaners. Plus knits offer extreme comfort. Viola - a knit culture is born and thriving.

Tara, you might remember this post:

http://youlookfab.com/2007/01/.....its-place/

Safest thing is to purchase fabric blends.

crazyone

Veteran

an aside: I like wovens and wear them all the time, but the wovens i tend to buy and not wear that much are full sleeve buttondowns, because of the comfort issue. Short sleeve or non buttondown woven shirts/blouses/tunics are just as comfortable as knits for me. I never iron or dry-clean these items--granted, I don't work in a formal office, but I find to avoid wrinkles, it's usually enough to grab the item right out of the dryer and hang it up.

I have some polyester hang ups, but there are some nice polyester items out there now. I share Maya and Sveta's disgust with acrylic, though.

Sihaya

Veteran

I agree with you Tara. Polyester by itself is something I would avoid. I am almost 100% a woven gal so I don't own too many synthetic tops. With my recent shift to dresses, there is more synthetic material. However, I try to stay with blended fabrics instead of pure nylon/polyester.

tarzy

Veteran

Thanks, Angie and everyone. That does help.

I've been on the hunt for blouses, and I'm finding that I love, love, love silk. Sigh. Champagne tastes, beer budget.